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P.A. homicide suspect surrenders after standoff with police in Syracuse

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Authorities wearing SWAT gear pack up after a standoff Tuesday night in Syracuse with a man suspected of a homicide in Pennsylvania. The man eventually surrendered to police.
(Gary Walts | gwalts@syracuse.com)

Syracuse, NY -- A man suspected in a homicide in Pennsylvania surrendered Tuesday night after a chase and tense standoff with authorities in the 2000 block of East Fayette Street in Syracuse.

Ryan Harding, 18, was taken in to custody at about 9:30 p.m., Sgt. Tom Connellan said.

Harding is a suspect in a May 5 homicide in Scranton, said Deputy US Marshal Joe Ciciarelli. He declined to provide further details about the homicide.

Police have accused Harding and Marlon Clotter, 21, in the shooting of a 22-year-old Harrisburg man in Scranton, The Patriot-News reported. Both men have self-proclaimed ties to the Crips, one of the largest gangs in the country.

Rahsan Crowder, a student at Lackawanna College, was shot and killed on May 5 about a block from a party that he attended with some friends.

Authorities received a tip that Harding might be in the Syracuse area. He has a friend living in the area, Connellan said. That person was taken into custody and questioned.

Syracuse police conducted a joint operation with US Marshals from Syracuse and Scranton, as well as Pennsylvania State Police and Scranton police.

When detectives and marshals encountered Harding at about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, he fled on foot, Connellan said.

Police locked down the block and the building at 2005 E. Fayette St. where they believed Harding was hiding. SWAT was called in and authorities began going door to door as they searched the building.

"We also had very good information that the suspect had a handgun," Connellan said.

Harding eventually surrendered to SWAT. Authorities are still searching for the handgun they believe he had, Connellan said.

Clotter was charged with conspiracy to commit murder and being an accomplice to murder. Authorities said Harding will likely be charged and arraigned in the next few days.